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PATH TO RECOVERY UPDATE: Etowah County

Committee expects about six more months of recovery work

This mobile home on Happy Hollow Road was destroyed after a tornado struck Wednesday night in the Ball Play No. 1 community east of Hokes Bluff, Ala., seen Thursday, April 28, 2011. Also, five horses were killed at this home, three have been located and one is still missing.

Published: Thursday, April 26, 2012 at 3:21 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, April 27, 2012 at 10:09 a.m.

Etowah County didn't have as much damage from the April 27, 2011, tornadoes as other Alabama counties, but its long-term recovery committee still had a good bit of work to do and helped other counties in setting up similar committees.

Committee Chairman Mark Hildebrant said it was impressive to see what he described as “literally the strength of Etowah County” come together as an example of how to do things efficiently and correctly.

“We had other counties model their long-term recovery after us,” he said. “That's not to say what I did, it's what the community did.”

Hildebrant predicted it would take another six months to finish the cases with which the committee, which helps meet needs not covered by insurance or Federal Emergency Management Agency funds, is involved. The committee assisted 15 families.

In Etowah County, 593 people registered with FEMA, and the agency awarded $410,292 for housing assistance and $43,946 in other needs assistance.

The county's American Red Cross chapter helped meet survivors' immediate needs after the tornadoes, joining with relief workers in Etowah, Calhoun, St. Clair and Cherokee counties.

A chapter spokeswoman last May said about 24,000 snacks, more than 7,000 cases of water, 500 tarps, 300 rakes, shovels, blankets, clean-up kits, flashlights and batteries, 500 tarps, 100 storage bins, 8,000 meals and 995 comfort kits had been provided. More than 21,000 bulk items such as diapers, formula, non-perishable food and work gloves also were distributed.

Executive Director Joy Ballenger estimated chapter volunteers had 1,020 hours of service in disaster recovery, working 10-hour days over a span of 102 days.

Long-term recovery committee caseworker Becky Ellis said some individuals needed minor assistance with filling out paperwork or in filing appeals with FEMA, while others needed help securing funds for repairs or rebuilding a house if they had no insurance.

The committee has raised about $125,000 through grant writing and local donations, said Susan Carter, a committee member and program director of First Call for Help.

Gadsden-Etowah Emergency Management Director Mike Bryant said eight homes in the county were destroyed by the tornadoes, two were declared unlivable, between five and eight suffered moderate damage and 20 received minor damage. Between 12 and 20 storm-related injuries were treated in local hospitals.

Bryant said 6,000 cubic yards of debris was removed from the county and six FEMA temporary housing units were used for displaced families. Some livestock also was killed.

The worst damage was centered in the Happy Hollow area in southeast Etowah County, which was hit by the EF4 tornado that plowed through Ohatchee, Silver Lakes and Webster's Chapel, and continued into Cherokee County.

Bryant said debris left roads inaccessible, so responders had to rely on their training to help reach those who were injured and needed immediate medical assistance. “They should be commended for their efforts,” he said.

Responders from several Etowah County agencies also helped with relief efforts in Calhoun, Cherokee and St. Clair counties, both on April 27 and for some time afterward. Bryant said both equipment and manpower were provided, and Alabama Mutual Aid System, which promotes communication between emergency management agencies in the state, was in force.

The Department of Human Resources Food Voucher program processed about 4,000 people from Etowah County.

Carter said three families remain in FEMA temporary housing units, two families have moved to completed homes and three more homes should be finished by the storms' anniversary.

“As they ran out of the FEMA money and their personal resources, we were able to use the Governor's Emergency Relief Fund that we had applied for and find out resources for them to complete their homes,” she said.

Repairs have been completed on many homes that were damaged. Carter said United Way of Etowah County estimates that volunteers from Florida, Georgia and other states have contributed more than $75,000 in labor for help in home rebuilding.

The county's long-range recovery committee was formed after the Coates Bend tornado in 2000, and was able to begin meeting soon after the disaster, Carter said.

“I think we're on schedule, I think we're where we should be,” she said of recovery efforts.

Carter noted that while Etowah County escaped major damage in the tornadoes, “For each one of the families we're dealing with, it's severe. We just don't have the numbers.”

<p>Etowah County didn't have as much damage from the April 27, 2011, tornadoes as other Alabama counties, but its long-term recovery committee still had a good bit of work to do and helped other counties in setting up similar committees.</p><p>Committee Chairman Mark Hildebrant said it was impressive to see what he described as “literally the strength of Etowah County” come together as an example of how to do things efficiently and correctly.</p><p>“We had other counties model their long-term recovery after us,” he said. “That's not to say what I did, it's what the community did.”</p><p>Hildebrant predicted it would take another six months to finish the cases with which the committee, which helps meet needs not covered by insurance or Federal Emergency Management Agency funds, is involved. The committee assisted 15 families.</p><p>In Etowah County, 593 people registered with FEMA, and the agency awarded $410,292 for housing assistance and $43,946 in other needs assistance.</p><p>The county's American Red Cross chapter helped meet survivors' immediate needs after the tornadoes, joining with relief workers in Etowah, Calhoun, St. Clair and Cherokee counties. </p><p>A chapter spokeswoman last May said about 24,000 snacks, more than 7,000 cases of water, 500 tarps, 300 rakes, shovels, blankets, clean-up kits, flashlights and batteries, 500 tarps, 100 storage bins, 8,000 meals and 995 comfort kits had been provided. More than 21,000 bulk items such as diapers, formula, non-perishable food and work gloves also were distributed.</p><p>Executive Director Joy Ballenger estimated chapter volunteers had 1,020 hours of service in disaster recovery, working 10-hour days over a span of 102 days.</p><p>Long-term recovery committee caseworker Becky Ellis said some individuals needed minor assistance with filling out paperwork or in filing appeals with FEMA, while others needed help securing funds for repairs or rebuilding a house if they had no insurance.</p><p>The committee has raised about $125,000 through grant writing and local donations, said Susan Carter, a committee member and program director of First Call for Help.</p><p>Gadsden-Etowah Emergency Management Director Mike Bryant said eight homes in the county were destroyed by the tornadoes, two were declared unlivable, between five and eight suffered moderate damage and 20 received minor damage. Between 12 and 20 storm-related injuries were treated in local hospitals.</p><p>Bryant said 6,000 cubic yards of debris was removed from the county and six FEMA temporary housing units were used for displaced families. Some livestock also was killed.</p><p>The worst damage was centered in the Happy Hollow area in southeast Etowah County, which was hit by the EF4 tornado that plowed through Ohatchee, Silver Lakes and Webster's Chapel, and continued into Cherokee County.</p><p>Bryant said debris left roads inaccessible, so responders had to rely on their training to help reach those who were injured and needed immediate medical assistance. “They should be commended for their efforts,” he said.</p><p>Responders from several Etowah County agencies also helped with relief efforts in Calhoun, Cherokee and St. Clair counties, both on April 27 and for some time afterward. Bryant said both equipment and manpower were provided, and Alabama Mutual Aid System, which promotes communication between emergency management agencies in the state, was in force.</p><p>The Department of Human Resources Food Voucher program processed about 4,000 people from Etowah County.</p><p>Carter said three families remain in FEMA temporary housing units, two families have moved to completed homes and three more homes should be finished by the storms' anniversary.</p><p>“As they ran out of the FEMA money and their personal resources, we were able to use the Governor's Emergency Relief Fund that we had applied for and find out resources for them to complete their homes,” she said.</p><p>Repairs have been completed on many homes that were damaged. Carter said United Way of Etowah County estimates that volunteers from Florida, Georgia and other states have contributed more than $75,000 in labor for help in home rebuilding.</p><p>The county's long-range recovery committee was formed after the Coates Bend tornado in 2000, and was able to begin meeting soon after the disaster, Carter said.</p><p>“I think we're on schedule, I think we're where we should be,” she said of recovery efforts.</p><p>Carter noted that while Etowah County escaped major damage in the tornadoes, “For each one of the families we're dealing with, it's severe. We just don't have the numbers.”</p>